In one of his last moves in office, President Obama commuted all but four months of the remaining prison sentence of Chelsea Manning, the Army intelligence analyst convicted of a 2010 leak that revealed American military and diplomatic activities across the world. As reported by the New York Times, “the decision by Mr. Obama rescued Ms. Manning, who twice tried to kill herself last year, from an uncertain future as a transgender woman incarcerated at the men’s military prison at Fort Leavenworth, Kan. She has been jailed for nearly seven years, and her 35-year sentence was by far the longest punishment ever imposed in the United States for a leak conviction.”
The date of the liberation coincides with the IDAHOT, on May 17, which turns this decision into a much broader acknowledgement of the situation faced by Trans prisoners in US jails.

This act will definitely constitute a way for President Obama to mark the IDAHOT once more even beyond his term. Former President Barrack Obama has marked the Day with special statements in 2016, 2015 and 2014.

Rainbow lights will Illuminate Brisbane landmarks

For the first time for IDAHOT, Queensland Parliament House will join other Brisbane landmarks, and be floodlit in rainbow lights displaying the six colors of the rainbow flag – the international symbol of pride for the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) communities. It’s anticipated that approval will be granted for Brisbane City Hall to again host the rainbow flag and rainbow lights – exactly one year to the day since the Council voted to support a motion backing legalizing marriage equality.

Wednesday 17 May: Rainbow flags will fly from Brisbane City Hall (to be confirmed), and the state headquarters of Qld Police Service, Qld Ambulance Service and Qld Fire and Emergency Services.

The American Psychological Association in cooperation with the British Psychological Society, the Williams Institute, PFLAG and the Family Equality Council will host a Twitter chat on the role of families in the wellbeing of LGBTIQ individuals and supporting the rights of LGBTIQ families.

Family Equality Council connects, supports, and represents the three million parents who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer in the USA today and their six million children of all ages.

In Cambodia, activists from CamAsean, Cambodia LGBT Pride, the Rainbow Life Museum and IDAHOT Cambodia are holding the “Rainbow Life Exhibition “in rural province of Takeo.

“Rainbow Life Exhibition” is part of social movement to raise awareness of social acceptance by families and community in Cambodia by showing the life of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) people with different backgrounds including farmers, teachers, sportspeople, performers, artists, government officials, etc.

Powerful stories, LGBT luminaries and different events will be organized in Thailand’s capital on IDAHOT. On May
17, the LGBT community and allies will come together at the Contemporary Art Center to show the power of diversity and support under the slogan “We are a #RainbowFamily” where talks, performances, exhibitions and more events will be held thought the day.

The first ever Beirut Pride festival will take place from May 14–21, 2017 in various venues across the Lebanese capital.

The Beirut Pride is a collaborative platform of local activists and business that takes a positive stance against hate and discrimination. It denounces hate speech and violence, especially that based on gender and sexual diversity, through the contribution of the creative industries and local human rights NGOs. Besides exhibitions, film screenings and other cultural events, several open door activities will be organized during the IDAHOT/Pride week, including Rooftop Gathering in Mar Mkhayel at the Rainbow Building (The Food Dealer Building) on May 16 at 10.00 p.m. A day prior to the Pride March will be dedicated to the IDAHOT and will be celebrated on May 20 at 11:00 a.m. by the local LGBT organization Helem. On May 21 1:00 p.m. Beirut Pride Parade is planed. Registrations are required at info@beirutpride.org

In the week before this year’s International Day Against Homophobia & Transphobia (IDAHOT) on May 17th, numerous prayer vigils in remembrance of victims of homophobia will once again be held in several Italian cities, as well as in various other countries in Europe and South America.

This initiative involves an increasing number of gay Christian groups, various Christian communities (Catholics, Waldensians and Baptists) and many organizations or church groups from several Italian cities.

For the first time, ecumenical vigils for victims of homophobia also take place in Spain (in Madrid, Bilbao, Murcia, Valencia, Ciudad Real and La Coruna), in some South American cities and in Munich, Germany.

San Francisco LGBT activists will gather on International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia Wednesday, May 17 to protest homophobia world wide. A custom-made 10-foot pink triangle will serve as the backdrop at Harvey Milk Plaza as LGBT activists call to pressure Russia to act against local authorities in Chechnya. The activists will also hold a moment of silence in honor of the victims in Chechnya.

In turn the protesters will also demonstrate against the ongoing murders of transgender individuals and urge resistance against President Donald Trump’s threats to the LGBT community in the U.S. The rally will also celebrate the release from prison that day of Chelsea Manning, the transgender former Army intelligence analyst, who is to be released on May 17.

The IDAHOT rally in San Francisco will take place from 6 to 7 p.m. at Harvey Milk Plaza, Market and Castro streets.

For more information, contact Virginia at (415) 867-5004

Harrow Council hosts a professional LGBT photo shoot

London Borough of Harrow in Greater London, England, will celebrate International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia by professional LGBT photo shoot; May 17, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. @ Civic Centre, Station Rd, Harrow HA1 2XY, England.

The event is open to everyone, if someone identifies as LGBT, they can take part in the photo shoot and Tom Dingley’s #Outcome project.

Harrow Council is committed to promoting and celebrating the diversity of Harrow and fostering community cohesion.

The Argentinean LGBT federation and the Metropolitan University for Education and Work (UMET) join forces to develop a month long program consisting of a photo exhibition, a panel discussion on “the challenges for the inclusion of Trans people” and the projection of a documentary on the life of Trans activist Claudia Pía Baudracco. More information on UMET’s site.

The Dutch, Belgian and Swedish Embassies and the City of Buenos Aires will team with various LGBT civil society organisations such as Comunidad Homosexual Argentina, La Fulana, ATTTA Red Nacional, la Federación Argentina LGBT, la Fundación Huesped, Gapef, and Mayores en la Diversidad for a public gathering aiming at raising awareness of the situation of LGBT people in the country.

The organisation AFDA – Asociación de Familias Diversas de Argentina, organises a meeting of Rainbow families on May 20th for the joint IDAHOT/IFED celebrations. More info on the event’s web page.

In Santiago del Estero, ATTTA Red Nacional, Di.Va.S, the Argentinean LGBT Federation and the National University of Santigo del Estero organise the first National Congress of Comprehensive Sexual Education, which aims to be a space for interaction between lecturers, students, researchers and activists.

The Flag will be kept up all the way until Pride March on June 10. This event marks the opening of Pride month, which has planned over forty cultural, educational and social events.

Contact: info@zagreb-pride.net

Manchester will be celebrating family love in the park

Greater Manchester’s LGBT Foundation is hosting a community event in Sackville Gardens to commemorate the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia on Tuesday 17 May. This year’s theme is family and a variety of speakers will be sharing their experiences. The gathering will look back at the past year and highlight the importance of supporting LGBT family members, particularly in light of recent events.

It will feature members of Greater Manchester’s diverse LGBT family sharing their experiences, and include performances from local communities and artists and culminate in a minute of noise against LGBT Hate Crime. The event will also feature an exhibition focusing on members of Greater Manchester’s LGBT refugee/asylum community.

For further information, join the Facebook event here tweet @LGBTfdn using #IDAHOBIT2017

Brazil Parliament opens to LGBT activists for IDAHOT

As every year since the very first IDAHOT back in 2005, the country vibrates with activities from north to south and east to west, far too many to be all listed.

Among the highlights, a meeting will be held at the Federal Parliament between Representatives and delegates from civil society. The Parliament will also hold two public hearings on the 17 on LGBT issues, including one on hate crimes. And the Senate will host a seminar on the 18th to discuss policies to combat LGBTphobias

Rainbow balloons and public gatherings throughout Germany

As is now becoming an IDAHOT tradition in Germany, “Rainbow Flashmobs” will have colorful balloons fly over many German cities. This year, the Day will also be celebrated by the Federal Anti-Discrimation Authority with concerts and speeches under Berlin’s iconic Brandenburger Tor.